Initiative

Last month, we focused on four leadership behaviors that can kill initiative in the workplace. Those behaviors are micro-management, a short-term focus, excessive bureaucracy, and a dictatorial style. These four problems are prevalent in a number of workplaces, but leaders often seem unaware of or unable to change their behavior. This month, we’d like to…

According to an article in Forbes, research out of the company CultureAmp has found that there are five crucial drivers of employee engagement. Employees must believe that they are working for a company where they can make a significant contribution in their field, and they must believe that their company has good career prospects for…

A Gallup study has shown that only 13% of employees around the world feel actively engaged at work. Unfortunately, more than twice that number feels so disengaged that they are likely to spread their negative attitude to other co-workers. To stop this, employers must take strides to engage their employees. Engaging employees begins with creating…

We recently discovered this RSA Animate video adapted from a talk given by Dan Pink at the RSA. In it, Pink discusses the three most important factors for motivating employees in the workplace. Interestingly, money is not one of them. Pink explains that a monetary incentive program can actually be counterproductive in a variety of…

When bringing new leaders into your business, it’s important to look for people with the power to change workplace culture for the better. Motivating employees to do and be better is one of the most important aspects of a leader’s role in any business, and accomplished leaders do that with initiative, inspiration, and intuition. Initiative…

Employees who show initiative are much more likely to become leaders within your organization. Initiative is a key component of employee engagement, which is essential to creating business value. Without strong employee initiative, your company is likely to be stuck in the mud with no clear path for moving forward. In fact, studies have shown…

The fastest way to move your career forward is by taking initiative at work. Doing the jobs you’ve been assigned and doing them well isn’t always enough. In order to stand out and show your true potential, you need to demonstrate to your company that you have the potential to do more than you’ve currently…

Initiative is something that executives hope for in employees, but the truth of the matter is that initiative has to start with the leader. Yes, initiative is a quality that — like organization or kindness — some people are simply more inclined to than others. However, that doesn’t mean that initiative can’t be taught, and…